Tumbler



A. C. MENNINGEN Aug. 11. 1925.

TUHBLER Filed Jam. 23 192'5 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [NI/Mme I a) 477mm [hm Eases Aug. 11, 1925. I 1,549,594

A. c. MENNINGEN TUMBLER Filed Jan. 23. 1925 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Aug. 11, 1925.

A. C. MENNINGEN- TUMBLER Filed Jan. 23. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fly/Emma Il'll r/W a M n Patented Aug. II, 1925.

UNITED STATES ADOLPH o. MENNINGEN, or wnsr Anus, wrsoonsnt,

AssIenjon. TO KOEHRING coit- IPANY, E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

' TUMIBLER.

Application nied'zranuar 2a, 1922. Serial No. 614,372.

that type which is more especially adaptedfor use in connection with the endless tracks or belts of track laying tractors.

The advantage of an endless belt or track laying tractor resides in the fact that the weight of the superposed load is distr buted over a comparatively large area, so that the tractor can be driven on soft earth and through deep dust and mud. In fact, conditions may be frequently encountered in which the lower or ground, reaches of the,

endless tracks are practically buried or submerged in the dirt and mud.

Under such conditions there is obviously a tendency of the dirt and mud to accumulate or collect between the track belt and the tumblers or sprockets around which it passes. Such accumulations of dirt and mud in the recesses of the tumblers or sprocket wheels would, if permitted to increase, tend to interfere seriously with the operation and efiiciency of the tractor by stretching the belt too tightly. In fact, an excessive packing of the accumulated dirt in the sprocket recesses might even stretch the endless track to the breaking point or cause the endless track to run off from the tumbler or sprocket wheel. 7

Among the objects of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty by providing a tumbler or sprocket wheel which embodies novel features of construction,whereby the tumblers or sprocket wheels are what may be termed self-cleaning, and any accumulations of dirt within the sprocket recesses which might tend to interfere with the efgciency of the tractor are rendered impossi 1e.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in certain combinations and associations of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being point- 5 ed out in the appended claims.

For illustrative purposes four different embodiments of the invention have been shown by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a tumbler which is constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 -4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a slightly modified construction of the tumbler or sprocket wheel.

Figure 6 is a side view thereof.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 5. I

Figure 9 is a front elevation of another modification of the tumbler or sprocket wheel.

Figure 10 is aside View thereof.

F1gure 11 is a transverse sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a front elevation of a further modification of the tumbler or sprocket wheel.

Figure 14 is a side view thereof.

Figure 15 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1515 of Figure 13.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to throughout the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Specifically describing the particular embodiment of the invention which is illustrated by Figures 1 to i inclus ve, the numeral 1 designates the hub of the tumbler which is adapted to be keyed or otherwise suitably fitted upon a conventional shaft. A series of spoke members 2 connect the hub to a rim member 3. In the present instance the spoke members are shown asbeing in the form of webs which are reinforced at opposite sides thereof by the ribs 4.

Extending around the periphery of the rim 3 and medially disposed with respect thereto is a peripheral web 5. The outer edge portion of the web terminates in a se ries of side walls 6 for the sprocket recesses A. In general these side walls are deflected laterally at opposite sides of the wheel, and the opposite sides of the recesses A are left open and unobstructed to provide for the extend inwardly beyond the side walls .6 and join the rim 3, thereby serving to reinforce the rim and the web 5 and forming lateral U-shaped pockets. A strong and rigid construction is thereby obtained, and such a construction is obviously desirable in the power wheel which is usedvfor driving the endless track belt. The outer ends of the end walls 7 maybe suitably enlarged or thickened at 7 for the purpose of stiffening and reinforcing the construction and providing additional metal at those parts of the wheel which are necessarily subjected to considerable wear by reason of being brought repeatedly into frictional engagement with the sprocket teeth of the endless track belt.

The tumbler or sprocket wheel may be formed with any desired or suitable number of the sprocket recesses A. Where there are an even number of these recesses all of the recesses will open alternately upon opposite sides of the tumbler and have a strictly staggered relation, although where there is an uneven number of the sprocket recesses, as in the tumbler which has been illustrated, there will be two adjacent recesses, such as those indicated at A which will open on the same side of the tumbler. These adjacent recesses are separated by an end wall 8 which connects the side walls 6 to a comparatively short auxiliary side wall 9 on the opposite side of the tumbler. The base of the end wall 8 and the auxiliary side wall 9 may be cored out, as indicated at 10, if desired, for the purpose of reducing the weight of the structure.

The entire structure of this tumbler or sprocket wheel may be formed from a single piece of material and have an integral f0rmation. The radial ribs 4 of the spoke members and the arrangement of the end walls 7 cooperate with each other to stiffen and reinforce the entire tumbler, so that a very strong construction is obtained. The sprocket recesses A are adapted to engage the corresponding sprocket teeth of a conventional endless track belt as the said belt passes around the tumbler, the particular construction of the endless track belt being immaterial and no track having been illustrated on the drawings, for the reason that such endless tracks are well known in the tractor art. As the endless track passes around the tumbler there will be a tendency for mud and dirt to accumulate between the tumbler and the links of the track, although any such accumulations of mud and dirt W111 be forced inwardly and discharged laterally through the open sides of the recesses A.

The discharge openings are solar e and the designated by the reference character 1".

The sprocket recesses A are formed by side walls 6 and transverse end walls 7 which radiate from the hub l and for the most part zigzag or alternate so that the sprocket recesses A open laterally upon op osite sides of the tumbler. In this modi cation the sprocket recesses A are substantially segmental in shape, and the outer ends of the end walls 7 are thickened to stiffen and reinforce the tumbler at this point. The thickened outer ends of the end walls are cored out transversely, as indicated at 11, thereby reducing the amount of metal required and keeping down the weight of the tumbler. The particular tumbler which has been illustrated has an uneven number of the sprocket recesses A, so that two adjacent recesses A face upon one side of the tumbler. The side walls 6 may have openings 12 cut therein, thereby additionally reducing the weight of the tumbler and at the same time providing further outlets for the escape of mud and dirt which might otherwise have a tendency to accumulate within the sprocket recesses A.

A further modification'is illustrated by Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, in which the reference character 1 designates the hub. The sprocket recesses A are formed by side walls 6 and end walls 7 which radiate from the hub and are arranged in a zigzag relation. The result is that alternate sprocket recesses A open upon opposite sides of the tumbler and the open sides of the sprocket recesses provide, as in the previous instance, for the escape of any mud or dirt which might otherwise tend to accumulate and become packed within the recesses. The side walls 6 may be formed with openings 12 to reduce the metal and provide additional outlets for the escape of mud and dirt. The outer ends of the end walls 7 may be thickened, as indicated, to stiffen and reinforce the construction and resist the wear at this point.

A still further modification is shown by Figures 13 to 15 inclusive of the drawings, in which the reference numeral 1 indicates the hub of the tumbler. A web 13 surrounds the hub and extends peripherally therefrom, and projecting radially from the hub are the side walls 6 of the sprocketrecesses A. These side walls form in effect continuations of the web which are deflected alternately toward posite sides of the tumbler. The outer edges of the side walls are stiffened by the ribs 14 and radial ribs extend from thehub 1 along the outer side of each of the side walls 6 being connected at their outer ends with the ribs 14. In this modification the sprocket recesses A have open ends and one open side. There are no end walls to the sprocket recesses, as in the previously described formsof the invention. The side walls are effectively reinforced and stiffened by the ribs 14 and 15 so that a strong and rigid construction is obtained and it will be obvious that any dirt or mud which may be caught between the'endless track and the tumbler will be readily discharged through the open sides of the sprocket recesses and prevented from accumulating or packing within the recesses in such a manner as to interfere with the proper and eificient action of the tumbler.

In all of the different forms of the invention effective provision has been made for the escape of mud and dirt, and each of the sprocket recesses has an open side which makes it impossible for mud or dirt to accumulate and pack within the recesses in such a manner as to interfere with the operation of the device.

In certain of the forms of the invention the bases of the sprocket recesses are inclined toward the open sides of the recesses to faciltate the discharge of dirt accumulations through the said open sides. Furthermore, the construction of the sprocket recesses with open sides eliminates the use of unnecessary metal or material in the construction of the tumbler, and enables the metal to be so positioned as to give the maximum strength for the amount of metal employed..

While several different embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

On the accompanying drawings the forms of the invention shown by Figures 1 to 12 inclusive are tumbler wheels which receive power and transmit it to the endless belt, while the form of invention illustrated by Figures 13 to 15- is a tumbler wheel which is merely intended to act as an idler. Throughout this description and in the claims the term tumbler wheel is intended to be sufficiently broad to include either a. driving wheel or an idler.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

- side walls.

2. A tumbler wheel formed with sprocket recesses each having 'end walls, the adjacent walls of alternate recesses being provided with connecting sides at one side of the tumbler wheel and the intermediate recesses having their end walls connected by sides at the opposite side of the wheel.

3. A tumbler wheel formed with sprocket recesses, each of which has one side wall and two transverse end walls, the side walls and end walls extending around the periphery of the wheel in a zigzag relation, whereby the sprocket recesses have open sides which face alternately on opposite sides of the wheel and provide for the escape of dirt accumulations.

4. An endless traction belt tumbler wheel .including a wheel body, a peripheral web extending around the wheel body, and side wallsproject-ing from the peri heral web and alternately deflected lateral y in opposite directions to provide sprocket recesses having open sides to provide for the escape of dirt accumulations, said recesses adapted 1toolreceive projections of an endless traction 5. A tumbler wheel including a wheel body, a peripheral web extending around the wheel body, side walls projecting from the web and deflected laterally in opposite directions, transverse end walls connecting adjacent side walls and cooperating therewith to provide sprocket recesses having open sides which face alternately on opposite sides of the wheel.

6. A tumbler wheel formed with sprocket recesses each of which has one side wall and two transversely disposed end walls, the outer edges of the end walls being reinforced and the side walls and end walls extending around the wheel in a zigzag manner, whereby the sprocket recesses have open sides to provide for the escape of dirt accumulations.

7 A tumbler wheel including a wheel body, side walls and end walls extending around the periphery of the wheel in a zigzag relation to provide sprocket recesses having open sides which face alternately on opposlte sides of the wheel to provide for the escape of dirt accumulations, and reinforcing means between the wheel body and the walls of the sprocket recesses.

8. A tumbler wheel including a wheel body, a peripheral web extending around the wheel body, side walls projecting from the peripheral web and deflected laterally in opposite directions, transverse walls connecting adjacent side walls and having inward extensions which project along the sides of the web and 'oin the wheel body, the side walls and emf walls cooperating with each other to provide s rocket recesses having open sides to provi e for the escape of dirt accumulations.

9. An endless traction belt tumbler wheel including a wheel body, a peripheral web extending around the wheel body, side walls projecting from the web and alternately defiected laterally in opposite directions to pro vide open sided sprocket recesses to receive projections of an endless traction belt, the bases of the recesses being inclined toward theopen sides thereof, so that dirt accumulations will be readily discharged through the open sides. 1

10. A tumbler wheel having a peripheral row of sprocket recesses, of which each recess is formed with one side wall and transverse end walls, the side walls and end walls having a zigzag relation so that the sprocket recesses have open sides facing alternately 01f). opposite sides of the wheel, and the bases 0 t open sides thereof to facilitate the discharge ofdirt accumulations.

11. A tumbler wheel formed with sprocket recesses having open sides to provlde for the escape of dirt accumulations, and comprising side and end walls projecting from the wheel periphery, each recess having only one side wall and the same located in a plane substantially continuing from the plane of the side of the wheel, and the end Walls extending across the Wheel eriphery and connecting adjacent side Wal s.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ADOLPH C. M'ENNINGEN.

e recesses being inclined toward the l 

